JERSEY CITY, N.J.  A prominent AFC West coach recently sent a text message to at least one friend and member of the Denver Broncos organization.

The Broncos are in the Super Bowl. Its MVP quarterback is in year 16.

The gist of the playful message: “Win, so he retires.”

Wishful thinking.

Whether the 37-year-old Peyton Manning is potentially 60 minutes away from riding into the sunset has been a topic leading up to Sunday's title game. It's one the All-Pro has been asked about multiple times over four media conferences this week. It's one Manning, not interested in making the game about his career, has downplayed.

But certainly, the AFC West will be watching.

The Broncos were coming off a division title when Manning arrived in 2012, but he's only tipped the balance of power toward Denver. It is 12-1 in division games the past two regular seasons, including a playoff win this month over San Diego. The Chargers are 8-5, the Raiders are 3-9, and the Chiefs are 2-10.

Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips has spent all 10 years of his NFL career in the AFC West. After nine in San Diego, he's now in Denver.

“My mindset is in order to be the best, you have to play the best,” Phillips said. “I want Peyton in tip-top shape at all times whether I was going against him or whether he was on my team.”

Manning's message on the subject has been that he'll be back.

He said he's spoken to Broncos executive John Elway and retired Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, both of whom played into their late 30s.

Elway retired at age 38. Lewis was 37. Manning turns 38 in March.

“I think John Elway would still be playing football if he could physically,” Manning said. “Based on his words to me, physically, he just couldn’t do it anymore. It was too hard to practice, it was too hard to play in the games, and it was painful — he just had nothing left to give out there. That’s why he decided to retire. Had he felt better, he would have kept playing.

“I feel a little bit better than I thought I would coming off that surgery a couple of years ago. I feel better physically. I’ve been rejuvenated playing under a different offense, playing with new receivers because it keeps me stimulated every day. So, I certainly would like to keep playing.”

Statistically, he is at the top of his game.

When including the postseason, the Broncos are 15-3 this year. Manning has thrown for 6,107 yards and 59 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He had arguably the best regular season in NFL history, setting records of 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns.

The only major known health concern is a surgically-repaired neck that reportedly be examined this offseason.

No one within the Chargers organization has expressed a hope Manning retired. People asked said they expect Manning will play next year; he loves the game and being around it too much.

This year, former Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer has seen so first hand.

“When he's out there and it's football, he's into it,” Jammer said. “We all see Peyton and we think of Peyton as football, football, football. But he's a funny guy — a really funny guy. He's cracked me up since I've been here.

“If it was (his last game), I hope he goes out with a win. I don't like talking about speculation, and I'll never speculate about somebody else's career. I don't know what he's thinking, but hopefully this is not the end for him. I think he's got a lot of good football ahead of him. But if he decides to retire, he's definitely a legend.”